Following the success of Apprentices Mean Business representation at the first launch of a Dorset Young Enterprise event we were invited back again! On the 14th and 20th January Apprentices Mean Business Ambassadors spoke again sharing their experiences as Apprentices. Ashlie Kitching and Jake McKenna from JP Morgan spoke to local students about why it’s so great to be an apprentice. The Young Enterprise scheme focusses on teaching students true business skills and they’ll be mentored by local business men and women over nine training sessions.

Today Superior Seals supported at a careers convention at Bournemouth School; the event and programme encompassed various careers topics and general employability advice. Ashleigh Baker presented to students on what it’s like “Being a Superior Apprentice”. Feedback from students and parents was extremely positive.

On the 4th and 5th of November Apprentices Mean Business ambassadors represented the network at two launch events for the Dorset Young Enterprise. Ellie Fermor from Bournemouth and Poole College and Jamie Arnold from Superior Seals spoke about their experiences as apprentices to a group of thirty students from local schools. The Young Enterprise scheme focusses on teaching students true business skills and they’ll be mentored by local business men and women over nine training sessions.

Today Superior Seals supported a careers convention at Queen Elizabeth School. Students and parents were able to get a real insight into what engineering is all about, the feedback from those that attended was amazing!

Today Ben Clarke represented the Apprentices Mean Business network at the House of Lords. Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI) and the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE) came together to host a celebratory event recognising individual and organisational successes in enterprising skills development through a range of awards. With key figures from the enterprise and skills sector it was a great opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities in apprentice training. Jason Holt, CEO of the Holts Group and the Government appointed Small Business Ambassador was amongst the award winners and… Read More

Today two ambassadors, Charlotte Coleman from Bournemouth and Poole College and Susanna Perkins from Superior Seals spoke at “I’m Hired Day” an event at Corfe Hills School. The day was to help students in Year 13 with alternative options to university. The ambassadors were talking about their apprenticeship experiences, a normal day and the qualifications being gained. The students seemed interested about apprenticeships and asked some insightful questions after some encouragement.

Today Superior Seals supported a careers convention at the Glenmoor and Winton Academies. The event was very well attended by students and parents with lots of interest being shown in apprenticeships, particularly in the engineering sector. Extremely positive feedback with many prospective apprenticeship candidates! Bring on next years intake!!

Today two ambassadors took apprenticeship questions from year eleven students at Avonbourne College. Ellie Fermor from Bournemouth and Poole College and Matt Collom from JP Morgan helped uncover all the myths by joining a school lesson all about “Post 16 Options”. Having direct access to real apprentices with real experiences, the students could really understand what an apprenticeship is all about.

Today Susanna Perkins apprentice ambassador from Superior Seals presented “Chemistry at Work” at Bournemouth and Poole College. She presented to groups of year eight students from various schools around the area. The session presented by Susanna was about polymer science but there was a wide variety of sessions from making ice-cream to bath bombs. The feedback from students and teachers has been really positive, the event was a big success!!

Today local sixth form heads came together at The Arts University Bournemouth for a “Post-16 Conference” Making Education Work to gain awareness of all the different options. Ben Clarke who heads up “Apprentices Mean Business” took us on his journey from leaving school at sixteen to getting an apprenticeship, developing as a person and securing a senior management position. Ben’s presentation gave all the sixth form heads an insight into the true meaning of an apprenticeship and how big the opportunities are for young people.

Today Superior Seals attended the second Big Bang event hosted by Bournemouth and Poole College (STEM Centre). The event encouraged employers to promote science, technology, engineering and maths to school children in short ‘hands on’ sessions. Superior Seals took Lego Mindstorm Robots, this allowed the children to learn basic programming and expand their thinking; all the children successfully completed a “mini” course and won a trophy! The event was very popular and hopefully inspired some young engineers of the future.

Today Superior Seals apprentice Jamie Arnold represented the network at Ferndown Upper School. Jamie was promoting engineering apprenticeships as great career route and shared the opportunities available at Superior. Students and teachers were curious to ask questions about the life of an apprentice.

Today two Ambassadors, Susanna Perkins and Ashleigh Baker from Superior Seals attended the women in engineering conference at Bournemouth and Poole College. The afternoon was very successful in highlighting the importance of engineering in today’s society and the need to encourage young women into technical based careers. The attendees comprised of local female teachers, STEM ambassadors and business representatives; all who attended were extremely enthusiastic and keen to support future women in engineering. Whilst at the conference Susanna and Ashleigh discussed their apprenticeship scheme and what benefits and opportunities it’s offered them.

Today four ambassadors presented their apprenticeship experiences to students of Parkstone Grammar School, Poole. Matt Collom and Ashlie Kitching from JP Morgan and Joe Key and Ben Lane from Ultra Electronics gave students a different view to think about. This was an important event to highlight alternative career paths for sixth form students demonstrating that it is possible to gain degree level qualifications through an apprenticeship, with the added benefit of real life working experience and getting paid!

Today businesses across Dorset joined together at Kingston Maurwood College, the aim, to work together for the mutual benefit of employers, the next generation of Dorset workers and the regional economy as a whole. Ben Clarke who heads up the “Apprentices Mean Business” network took us back to the start of his apprenticeship and presented his career progression as a young man and demonstrated what young people can go on to achieve in a very short space of time; “these days young people are enthusiastic, passionate and ambitious; we as employers need… Read More

Today two Ambassadors presented their higher apprenticeship experience to a hundred year twelve students of Bourne Academy at Bournemouth University. In what was a challenging session, Ben Lane from Ultra Electronics and Susanna Perkins from Superior Seals demonstrated the possibilities of what young people can go on to achieve; a very useful session for the young people who attended.

Today three Ambassadors visited Purbeck School for their careers open day, it was an intimate event which allowed everyone to get an up-close experience of what it’s like to be an apprentice. For the ambassadors it was an enjoyable afternoon to share their experiences and knowledge, for me it great interacting with the people who attended. Joe Manning, Sunseeker

It’s the last week to enter The National Apprenticeship Awards 2014! The Awards recognise both excellence in businesses that grow their own talent through Apprenticeships and the apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces. The closing date for entries is Friday 28 March 2014 at 5.00pm. Click here to enter!

Today Superior Seals invited fourteen students from West Moors Middle School into the company to meet their apprenticeship ambassadors. The event proved to be a highly successful event with the students spending some time learning about polymer science before embarking on a CNC machining and robotics project. The objective of the robotics was that the students would see a trophy being manufactured on the CNC lathes and milling machines before competing for the trophy in a robotics challenge. The challenge involved the students programming their robot to complete a series of challenges in… Read More

Today employers, colleges and training providers from around Dorset came together at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) for “The Skills Show Experience”. With over one thousand students coming through the doors it was a great opportunity to try a range of activities including robotics, construction, cooking and web design! We had great local support from Apprentices Mean Business, with Bournemouth and Poole College, JP Morgan, Sunseeker, Superior Seals and Ultra Electronics all attending. A great day promoting apprenticeships. #NAW2014

We’ve decided it’s time for a slight refresh and what better day to do it than the first day of National Apprenticeship Week?! We’re pleased to announce that we’ve had a new logo designed and have finally set up a twitter account. We’re going to be very active on Twitter over National Apprenticeship Week (3rd – 7th March) and we’d love you to join in. If you’d like to follow @Apprentices_AMB

Today four Ambassadors presented their apprenticeship experiences to parents and students of Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne; with over three hundred and fifty people attending it was a huge turn out! Charlotte Coleman from Bournemouth and Poole College, Grace Morrison from Scissors, Joe Key from Ultra Electronics and Alex Riley from Superior Seals all took to the stage and explained what it’s like to be an apprentice. The Head Teacher Mr McLeman commented how encouraging and inspiring it was to hear the young people speak and to such a big audience. The event… Read More

Dorset Chamber are delighted to once again be inviting entries for the 2014 Warde Apprenticeship Award which seeks to acknowledge and celebrate an Apprentice’s exceptional contribution to his or her workplace. Entries are open until 5.00pm on Friday 24th January, with judging taking place on Thursday 30th January. The winner will be announced on the 4th February with the Award being presented at the DCCI Annual Presidents Lunch at the Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel on Friday 14th February. To download an application form click here or for more information please contact Rod… Read More

Today Superior apprentice Adam Cook represented the network at Ferndown Upper School. Adam presented his experience of a manufacturing apprenticeship to students and parents attending the event. The event also saw the launch of the new Ferndown Apprenticeship Club.

Today ambassadors attended a careers convention at Corfe Hills School; it was an extremely well attended event. Superior demonstrated their robotics programme which was very popular amongst the attendees.

Today ambassadors from Sunseeker, Superior and Cobham presented to Head Teachers from various Dorset Schools at Kingston Maurward College. The event was highly productive and was based around the importance of teaching STEM subjects in schools.

Today, Ambassador Susanna Perkins from Superior Seals presented to A-Level students at Corfe Hills School; speaking about her apprenticeship experience as an alternative to university. Tom Holdich from the National Apprenticeship Service said: “Your input to the session was fantastic and really contextualised Apprenticeships and how they work to the students.”

Today four first year apprentices from Superior Seals were thrown in the deep end at a busy careers convention at Glenmoor School. Having only just started their apprenticeship they were able to explain to parents and students why they chose an apprenticeship and how it’s been so far. It was a great turn out with lots of interest in apprenticeships! Go Apprentices Mean Business!!

Today “Apprentices Mean Business” was presented to local employers demonstrating the importance of “growing your own talent”. It was a clear message, if we don’t start transferring knowledge and experience into the next generation we will face a major skills gap in the UK. The apprenticeship model allows young people to be developed, businesses need to nurture this talent and provide opportunities for them to grow and remain loyal. An apprentice with the right development can be transformed into a future business leader. Apprentices Mean Better Businesses

Today the Dorset Ambassador Network “Apprentices Mean Business” was introduced to Gordon Birtwistle MP at Portcullis House. Gordon Birtwistle MP was appointed as an Apprenticeship Ambassador during National Apprenticeship Week 2013, to engage with employers of all sizes advocating the benefits of high quality apprenticeships. His findings will be relayed to the Department for Education and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to help improve policy making. He was very impressed with this initiative in Dorset and said: “We need these Ambassador Networks in every county!” Gordon Birtwistle MP is fully behind this initiative and… Read More

Today we welcomed National Apprentice Service (NAS) to Superior Seals to train our Apprentice Ambassadors. This training will help our young Apprentice Ambassadors when they attend events speaking to students, parents, teachers and employers. Very soon our Apprentices Ambassadors will be attending various events shouting the message “get with apprenticeships”!

“Apprentices Mean Business” was launched today (National Apprenticeship Week) at the STEM Centre (Bournemouth & Poole College). The Apprentice Ambassador Network “Apprentices Mean Business” was introduced to the “Employers Forum” where local employers and schools attend. Each Apprentice Ambassador spoke briefly about their experiences and demonstrated their enthusiasm and passion for spreading the message about apprenticeships. Our aim was clear: “Increase awareness of apprenticeships and create more career opportunities in Dorset”